Career Connections give students a chance to "think outside the box," and outside the school.

Career Connections is a program that allows students to gain high school credit for on-the-job internships or apprenticeships at local employers, work at a job related to a student's career plan or become a teacher's assistant in school. Learn more about the Career Connections opportunities at DDHS below.

Career Connections Courses

Internship
This work-based program is designed for students to learn more about an occupation they may be considering as a future career. Students may qualify for an Employability Skills Certificate issued by the State of Wisconsin by completing a minimum of 180 documented hours. It is a non-paid position for school credit. The school works in a field related to their career goal. Time sheets with hours logged must be signed by the worksite supervisor and turned in to the Career Connections Coordinator weekly. This activity is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Teacher Assistant
To explore possible career opportunities in or related to the field of education, students may work with a teacher as a Teacher Assistant. Students may qualify for an Employability Skills Certificate issued by the State of Wisconsin by completing a minimum of 180 hours. It is a non-paid position for school credit. The teacher’s assistant (TA) position will allow students to work with and for a teacher. Duties of the TA will be determined by the supervising teacher and the TA to best suit the needs of the individuals involved. Applications to be a TA will be limited to the first two weeks of each semester and will be submitted by the supervising teacher. A copy of the student’s official schedule must be attached to the application form when submitting to the Principal’s office for approval. This activity is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.

Employment
This work-based program is for students interested in pursuing a career plan prior to graduation. The intent and purpose of work placements is to provide students with work experience that is related to their career goals. Students may qualify for an Employability Skills Certificate issued by the State of Wisconsin by completing a minimum of 180 hours. Students must be enrolled in the minimum 6 credits for the school year. Student’s work-site experience is supervised on the job by employers in conjunction with the appropriate faculty member. It is a paid experience for school credit. The student is employed in a field related to his/her goal. It requires that the student has completed a sequence of courses in the field related to his/her career goal. This partnership between business, industry and the school provides students with authentic experience in the world of work based upon their individual career goals. Time sheets with hours worked/wages received must be signed by the supervisor and turned in to the Career Connections Coordinator weekly. School credit will not be awarded without validation of hours worked. Students will be evaluated by their supervisors on a quarterly basis with the final evaluation being the WIsconsin Skills Standards Certificate from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This class is assessed on a pass/fail basis. A completed application form must be submitted to the Career Connections Coordinator during the course registration time period.

Youth Apprenticeship
Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship program is a foundational part of a statewide School-to-Work initiative that has earned Wisconsin national recognition as a leader in education reform. It is designed for high school students who want to experience hands-on learning at the worksite in conjunction with classroom instruction. This rigorous two year elective combines academic and technical instruction with mentored on-the-job learning that makes a real world connection for the student. Students are responsible for gaining employment by June 30th in a related, relevant job. This will allow students to work as few as 11 hours per week by the end of the next school year and still successfully complete their program. Seniors must complete their hours prior to graduation. Employment sites must agree to pay Youth Apprentices at least minimum wage via company payroll, which includes worker compensation and payroll taxes. Additional hours may be worked. Upon successful completion of a Youth Apprenticeship program, students will receive, in addition to high school credit, advanced standing towards an Associate Degree if they enroll in a Wisconsin Technical College System program. Students will also receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency form the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for completion of a Level 2 program and a Certificate for Level 1 completion. The following areas are currently available:

•      Automotive Technician

•      Building Trades Academy I

•      Health Services

•      Lodging Management

•      Production Ag: Dairy and Livestock

•      Production Ag: Crops

•       Welding

Please note: Students must complete the required application process prior to acceptance into Career Connections. No student shall be released for a work experience program after the semester has begun unless there is administrative approval.